Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 13
Chapter 154: विवाहः
Vivāha — Marriage
प्रशुप्ते केशवे नैव विवाहः कार्य एव हि पोषे चैत्रे कुजदिने रिक्ताविष्टितथो न च
praśupte keśave naiva vivāhaḥ kārya eva hi poṣe caitre kujadine riktāviṣṭitatho na ca
কেশব (বিষ্ণু) যখন ‘প্রশুপ্ত’ অবস্থায় থাকেন, তখন বিবাহ অবশ্যই করা উচিত নয়। পৌষ ও চৈত্র মাসে, মঙ্গলবারে, এবং রিক্ত ও আবিষ্টি তিথিতেও বিবাহ নিষিদ্ধ।
Lord Agni (in dialogue instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the common Agni Purāṇa frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Selecting/avoiding marriage dates by excluding Vishnu’s sleep period (Chaturmasya context) and specific months, weekdays, and tithis deemed inauspicious.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vivaha-Nishedha: Prashupta Keshava, Pausha/Caitra, Tuesday, Rikta & Avishti Tithis","lookup_keywords":["prashupta-keshava","chaturmasya","rikta-tithi","avishti","vivaha-nishedha"],"quick_summary":"Marriage is prohibited during the period when Keśava is ritually ‘asleep’ and on specified months/days/tithis. This functions as a muhurta filter before choosing an auspicious date."}
Concept: Kala (time) is a ritual determinant; aligning samskara with auspicious temporal conditions is treated as a practical dharmic technology.
Application: In wedding planning, first exclude Chaturmasya/Vishnu-sleep period and the listed months/days/tithis, then proceed to nakshatra/graha checks.
Khanda Section: Muhūrta-Jyotiṣa (Auspicious timings for saṃskāras and rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhaya
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest-astrologer consulting a panchanga; a reclining Vishnu motif indicating ‘sleep’; calendar panels marking Pausha, Caitra, Tuesday, and Rikta/Avishti tithis as barred for marriage.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: astrologer with palm-leaf almanac beside a temple lamp; in the background Ananta-shayana Vishnu; symbolic calendar glyphs crossed out for prohibited times.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Vishnu reclining on Ananta with gold embellishment; foreground priest holding panchanga and pointing to marked-off dates; wedding couple waiting respectfully.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore instructional painting: clear panchanga grid, icons for weekday (Kujavara), months (Pausha/Caitra), tithi labels (Rikta, Avishti), with a ‘do not’ band; calm palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: court astrologer presenting an almanac to a family; marginal vignette of Vishnu in yogic sleep; fine calligraphic date annotations."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"didactic","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: naiva = na + eva; poṣe = pauṣe (orthographic variant); likely reading issue in riktāviṣṭitatho (needs manuscript confirmation).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 154 (Muhurta-Jyotisha for samskaras)
FAQs
It gives muhūrta-vidyā guidance for vivāha (marriage): avoid conducting the rite during Viṣṇu’s ‘sleep’ period, in Pauṣa and Caitra months, on Tuesday (Mars’ day), and on Riktā/Āviṣṭi inauspicious time factors.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purāṇa preserves applied Jyotiṣa (electional astrology) by listing concrete prohibitions for a major saṃskāra (marriage), showing its practical, handbook-like scope.
By avoiding inauspicious calendrical factors for vivāha, the rite is aligned with dharmic timing, traditionally believed to reduce obstacles (vighna) and support marital stability, prosperity, and auspicious progeny.